Name: Troy Henkels

Nickname: Iowa Boy

Date of Birth: January 4th, 1967

Nationality: Alaska, USA

Website: www.TroyHenkels.com

Disciplines: freestyle, wakestyle, extreme location, paraglider, speedfly

Highlights: First to kite in Antarctic waters.  First to kite Alaska’s infamous Turnagain Arm bore tide.

Home spot: Turnagain Arm, Alaska

Favourite Spots: Buls Bay, Antarctica, 20 Mile Turnagain Arm, Maui

Favourite Gear: Ozone: Instinct, Catalyst, Frenzy, Manta.  Kokatat Expedition drysuit.  Oakley waterjackets

Favourite Moves: avoiding icebergs, packing for the next expedition

More important than kiting: Family and Friends

Inspiration: Robert Waller - for how to live life.
Claire ‘Clara’ Donahue - for how to live life to the fullest.
Dave ‘SuperDave’ Calkins - for enthusiasm and how to get the most out of your gear.
Jeff King - for competitiveness, that killer instinct, and to never give up.
Lance Armstrong - because He’s the Man.

What do you do in free time: explore the remote corners of Alaska and the world

What’s on your Ipod: Uncle Tupelo, Box 10, Whiskeytown, Lucero, Green Day

Future plans and goals: Kite across the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, summer 2010.   http://www.beringstraitexpedition.com

Circumnavigate the interior of Antarctica using kites, following and studying the wind patterns, 2011/2012.   http://www.aamexpedition.org/

Dream session: Anyplace warm, with sand, sun, bikinis, no drysuit required, and no icebergs to avoid.

Other Sponsors: Oakley, Kokatat, Eddie Bauer/First Ascent, Maurice Lacroix, Sprayway, Vaude

Interesting saying: ‘Live Large’, ‘It doesn’t get any better than this’, ‘You only get one chance, make it count’